Diversity, Endemism, and Extinction in the Flora and Vegetation of New Caledonia Porter P. Lowry II Missouri Botanical Garden P.O. Box 299 St. Louis, Missouri, 63166-0299 USA The following paper was presented at the International Symposium entitled "Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Floras of Asia and the Pacific Rim" held at the Institute of Botany, Academia Sinica in Taipei, Taiwan, 30 April - 4 May 1996. The printed version with expanded text has now been published in the symposium volume (Lowry, P. P., II, Diversity, Endemism, and Extinction in the Flora of New Caledonia: a Review. Pp. 181-206 In: C. -I Peng and P. P. Lowry II (ed.), Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Floras of the Pacific Rim. Institute of Botany, Academica Sinica, Monogr. Ser. No. 16, Taipei). Reprints are available from the author (lowry@mobot.org or lowry@mnhn.fr). Table of Contents Abstract Introduction Geographic Setting Geology, Tectonic History,and Soils Climate and Topography Vegetation Floristic Diversity Rates of Endemism Diversity and Endemism by Vegetation Type and Substrate Origin of the New Caledonian Flora The Role of Ultrabasic Substrates in the Evolution of New Caledonia's Flora Phytogeographic Affinities Threats and Extinction Conservation Dedication, Acknowledgments Literature Cited